Method and means for renewing web rolls in a printing machine



March 15, 1938. A. J. HORTON 2,110,976

METHOD AND MEANS FOR RENEWING WEB ROLLS IN A PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug.7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

March 15, 1938. A, J HQRTQN 2,110,976

METHOD AND MEANS FOR RENEWING WEB ROLLS IN A PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug.7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 15, 1938 METHOD ANDMEANS FOR RENEWING WEB ROLLS IN A PRINTING MACHINE Albert J. Horton,White Plains, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,061

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the means and procedure, used during theoperation of a full speed roll changing mechanism for printing machines,and more particularly to means for and method of preparing a replacementroll for joining its web to the running web of an expiring web roll, andof holding the end of the web of the replacement roll against the bodythereof in such a manner, that it will readily release itself at thetime 1 the join is made.

Before joining the web of a web replacement roll with the web of anexpiring web-roll, ad hesive is applied to the leading end of the web ofthe replacement roll, upon its outer surface and the roll is thenrotated up to the speed of the running web. The roll and running web arethen moved relatively to each other, into contact, to

cause the adhesive covered portion of the replacement roll to adhere tothe running web of the expiring roll, which latter web is then severedand the new web is drawn into the printing machine.

Various'means and mechanisms have been suggested and used for holdingthe free end of the web of the replacement roll closely thereto whileitis being brought up to the speed of the running web and before it isjoined thereto. All of these have contemplated the provision of means tocause a quick release of the aforesaid free web end at the moment theweb join is made, so as not to unduly strain the respective webs orcause interruption in the machine operation. Among these means, is theprovision of so called gummed tabs for securing the free end of the webto the roll body by having a portion thereof adhering to both the freeend and the body and tearing or otherwise separating, when the join isbeing made. Some forms of these tabs have been provided with weakenedportions to facilitate the separation thereof, while others are arrangedin such a manner as to readily rupture upon having a strain imposedthereon, such as occurs when lifting the free web end from the rollbody. These tabs are of a particular form which require care 4 inhandling and in their proper application. The

weakened form of tab has been found to be especially difiicult to applyproperly, without tearing it at the time of application and diflicultyhas been experienced due to their separating before the join is made andprematurely releasing the web.

Another form of web end holding means requires the weakening of the webportion between the point at which the web end is secured to the rolland the portion of the web end directly following the same. Thisprocedure necessitates additional work and it is diflicult to avoidweakening the web excessively.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a holding meanswhereby no weakening 5 of the web end is required and the full strengthof the web portion adjacent the securing point is retained to insurethat there will be no premature parting and release the web end from theroll. 10

This invention, while using gummed slips or label like members or theirequivalent in carrying out certain of the principles thereof,contemplates the use of slips or members of no particularly special formor structure, a short piece of a gummed strip from a roll of bindingpaper being well suited to the purpose. Another aspect of this inventioncontemplates the reinforcement, by means of gummed strip material or thelike, of portions of the leading end of the web of the renewal roll,whereby separation by rupture of the web itself will be facilitated atpredetermined and controlled points and in the desired direction, thusfreeing this leading web end from the roll when the join is made. 25

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide means forsecurely holding the end of the web of the replacement web roll againstthe body thereof, while the replacement roll is being handled androtated in preparation for having the web thereon joined to the web ofan expiring web roll.

Another object is to provide a method of holding and of permitting aquick release of the leading end of the-web of a replacement web roll,when it is joined to the running web of an expiring web roll.

Still another object is to provide means of comparatively simple andinexpensive form and 40 structure, to secure the web of a replacementweb roll to the body thereof, which will insure substantially instantrelease thereof when a join is made between this web and the web of anexpiring web roll.

A further object is to provide an improved form for the leading end ofthe web of areplacement web roll in combination with means to secure thesame to the roll to insure a firm connection therebetween and permit aquick release therefrom.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are 11- lustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatical view of a web feeding mechanism that pr v fr J i h h web of a replacement web roll to the running web of anexpiring web roll, and with which the in-' vention may be employed.

Figures 2 to 8 inclusive are views of web replacement rolls,illustrating several forms and arrangements of web end securing meansand of preparing the same for use in the carrying out of the principlesof this invention;

Figure 2 shows web end securing means disposed at the points or apicesof the salient angles of a fish-tail form of web end;

Figure 3 shows web end-securing means applied to a roll having its webend formed with a straight leading edge from which a tapered portion hasbeen cut at each end and also at the center;

Figure 4 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 2, exceptthat the points-of the fish-tail are disposed adjacent the ends of theroll and the web securing means is of somewhat different form;

Figure 5 shows a web end securing means disposed at the point or apex ofa salient angle form of web end;

Figure 6 shows a form of releasable web end securing means somewhatsimilar to that shown in Figure 4, but with an additional featureprovided which will be hereinafter pointed out;

Figure 7 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 2, butillustrating a somewhat modified form of .securing means and teardirecting means; and I Figure 8 shows an arrangement similar to thatshown in Figure 7, but having the securing means disposed at the pointof a salient angle form of web end, as in Figure 5.

The non-stop web roll feeding and changing mechanism illustrated inFigure 1 comprises a roll supporting reel H rotatably mounted upon a'support l2 and adapted by means of arms l3, l4, and i5 to rotatablysupport web rolls and to be actuated to move them into and out of webfeeding position. An expiring web roll I6 is shown supported by arm 13with its web il running to a printing machine (not shown), the reelilhaving been rotated to move the expiring roll l6 into the positionshown, from the position at present occupied by the replacement roll iswhich is shown in web joining position with respect to the web i1.

A roll rotating device including a driven belt I9, is provided, torotate the roll I! and bring it up to the speed of the running web I!before the Join between the respective webs is made. A swingable webengaging brush 2i is provided to press the running web l1 against theroll ii to cause it to be joined to the web end 22 thereof by adhesivepreviously disposed thereupon, and a web severing knife 22 is providedto sever the running web I! as soon as the join is made. will beunderstood that suitable mechanism is provided to operate the rollrotating beltlQ, the brush 2| and the knife 22 in properly timedsequence so that no interruption in the operation of the machine will becaused.

As referred to above, adhesive is disposed betweeen the web I! and theweb end 22 of the replacement roll previous to making the join, and thisis indicated herein as being applied upon the web end 22 in the form ofa narrow strip 24. The strip of adhesive 24 follows the contour of theform of the web end, being disposed close to the edge thereof, a spacebeing left where no adhesive is applied, as indicated at 25 to permitcontact of the belt I! therewith without it ad-' hering thereto. g i

As shown in Figures 2, 4,and 6, the web end 22 is in the form of afish-tail, the points or apices 26 of the salient angles 21 thereof,being disposed in Figure 2, spaced. inward from the ends of the roll ii.In Figures 4 and 6, the apices 26 and the side edges of the web end areadjacent the ends of the roll l8. A slip or sticker 28, comprising ashort strip of gummed material is shown in Figure 2 pasted to both theweb end, at the apices 26, and the next course of web material on theroll N, in such a position that one of its straight side edges 29extends over the edge of the web end 22 forming an acute angle therewithand being substantially parallel to the adjacent side edge of the webend. In Figure 6, a disc-like sticker 3I is provided, while in Figure 4,a short piece of strip material 32 is used as a sticker to secure theleading or front end of the web to the next course thereof on the rolll8.

In all of the above forms the respective stickers are slightly spacedfrom the adhesive strip 24 so as to provide a strip of web materialtherebetween, not covered by either adhesive or any portion of thesticker. Preferably, the strip of adhesive 24 starts at a pointin closeproximity with the edge of the web end adjacent its intersection withthe sticker and extends angularly across the web, toward the adjacentend of the roll I 8. The purpose of the above arrangement is to insurethat the separation or parting of the web will take place between thesticker and the strip of adhesive and be directed toward the adjacentend of the roll, substantially instantaneously, to separate the web end22 from the roll when the web end is joined to the running web I! and torequire that the web be parted along only a comparatively short line.The small arrows shown on the drawings adjacent the leading edge of theweb end indicate the general direction in which it is torn whenseparatedfrom the holding means.

In Figure 6, a reinforcing piece of gummed strip material 33 is securedto the underside of the web end 22, to direct the tear of the webmaterial and more positively guide it toward the adjacent roll end. Inthe other forms, the natural tendency of the tear to extend toward theroll end is assisted by the reinforcement accorded this portion, by thejoin between the same and the running web, due to the disposition of theadhesive at an angle extending backwardly around the roll and toward theadjacent edge thereof. A short piece of strip material 34 may be securedto the centrally disposed apex of the angle of the fish-tail form of webend, to prevent possible fracture of the web at this point during thejoining operation.

In Figure 3 the web end 22 is shown cut or torn to form twoleadingvedges 20, the shape being somewhat similar to that which wouldbe obtained by removing the pointed portions of the fish-- tailarrangement of Figure 2, and the center portion is shown rounded, assome operators prefer to tear it in that manner. With this form of webend, a sticker 32 is used at each comer, and the adhesive strip 24applied preferably as shown, so as to leave a portion of the webuncovered beside and behind each sticker. It will be observed that whenproportioned as shown, the web end has four side edges to each of whicha tear is directed (as indicated by the adjacent small arrows), when theweb end is being separated from the roll. In this instance the belt path25 is shown in the center, but it can be left elsewhere around salientangle with a sticker 3! connecting the web end 22 to the roll it at theapex of the salient angle. The strip of adhesive It in this instance, isapplied in the form of a V shape, with the sticker 85 disposed betweenthe arms thereof, and extends from one side of the angle to the other;Reinforcing strips 31 are provided disposed beneath the web and alignedwith the strip of adhesive 38 to insure parting oi the web between thesticker 35 and the adhesive 36, the lines of tear in this instanceconverge as indicated by the small arrows on the drawings.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate means to releasably secure web ends to a rollwithout the use of strips of gummed material as the securing means. Inthis arrangement a spot of adhesive 38 is disposed beneath the web end22 adjacent the apex of the salient angle form of web shown in Figure 8and adjacent the forward points 19 of the fish-tail form of web end llshown in Figure 'l. A reinforcing piece 42 isprovided in the form shownin Figure 8, applied beneath the web end adjacent the spot of adhesive38. The reinforcing piece 42 has the form of a. fish-tail, the angle 43of which straddles the adhesive spot 38 and insures parting of the webbetween the sides of the salient angle. In Figure '1, a strip 44 isdisposed angularly with respect to the roll axis in such a manner as todirect the tear of the web toward one side of the angle, and along theedge 45 of the strip 44. In both figures, small arrows denote thedirection of the lines of tear.

To assist in the positive action of parting a portion of the web fromthe roll, in the forms shown in Figures 7 and 8, the piece 42 and thestrips ll extend outwardly from under the respective web ends and areadapted (by having adhesive applied to these projecting portions), toadhere to the running web IT, hen contact is made'with the running web.It is'also believed to be obvious, that when it is considered desirable,a reinforcing strip may be secured beneath the web ends 22 in the formsshown in Figures 2 and 4 similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 6.In all of the above instances, it is preferable that the strip materialbe stronger in tear resisting properties than the web material.

From the above it is believed to be obvious that an improved means forreleasably holding a web end to a web renewal roll, and of quicklyreleasing the same therefrom has been provided. It is also believed tobe obvious that due to there being a bare area of web material leftbetween the adhesive strip 24 and each of the respective stickers, theline of tear will be directed and controlled to start at the leadingedge of the web at a point adjacent the sticker and continue through thenarrow bare area of web material toward and to the edge of the web onthe end of the roll, along a. comparatively short line and generally atan angle extending backwardly the roll agreeing with the angle of theadhesive or the adjacent edge of the sticker, whereby a quick release ofthe web end results with a minimum of strain being imposed upon therunning web to which it is joined. As soon as the webs are joined, theangularly directed or arcuate sticker edge adjacent the aforesaid barearea of web material and the strip of adhesive constitute means todirect the web rupture, or tear, from the leading edge of the web end ina diagonal or angular course,

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesof said web end, whereby separation of the web end from the rollrequires the rupture of a portion of the web end, and means to directthe rupture in a diagonal course from the leading edge of the web endtoward a side edge of the web.

2. In a means to secure the web end of a web roll to the body thereofand to permit readily freeing the said end when desired, a stickerpasted to the web end and to the roll, a member.

of greater tear resisting strength than the web secured to the underside .of the web end, said member being disposed in respect to the edgeof the web end to present an edge to direct the course of the tearing ofthe web end from one edge of the web end diagonally to another edgethereof when the end is freed.

3. Means to secure the web end:v of a web roll to the body thereof,comprising aticker secured to the web end, and extending over an edgethereof-and secured to the body of the roll, and adhesive means on saidweb end adjacent to, but spaced from'said sticker, to join a running webto the web end when contacted therewith, said sticker having a greaterstrength than the web and having an edge intersecting theedge of the webend adapted to insure tearing of the web between the sticker and thesaid adhesive means,

and to direct the tear toward one end of the roll when the join betweenthe webs is made.

4. The method of separating a. web end, which is in connection with aweb roll at a point on its leading edge, which consists in causingadherence of the web end to a running web, thereby tearing the web endbeside the point of connection, and directing the tear angularly towardone end of the roll.

5. The method of separating a web end, which is in connection with a webroll at a point on its leading edge, which consists in engaging the webend at a point beside the point of its connection with the roll, thenpulling the web end away from the roll to cause rupture of the webportion between the point of connection and the engaged point, anddirecting the course of the rupture from the leading edge of the web endangularly toward one side thereof.

6. The method of holding and quickly freeing a web end from a web roll,-which consists in connecting the web end to the web roll at a point onthe leading edge of the web end, causing a running web to adhere to theweb end, and then parting the web along a line directed from the pointof its connection with the web roll angularly to an edge of the webdisposed at an angle to the aforesaid leading edge, by pulling the webend away from the roll by a continuance of the movement of the runningweb.

7. The method of preparing a replacement web roll for a non-stop rollchanging device in a machine operating upon a web, which includesforming the end of the web with a salient angle, securing the webportion at the apex of the angle to the roll, and disposing a diagonallypositioned strip of adhesive on the outer surface of the web end behindand adjacent the portion which is secured to the roll, whereby when thepasted surface is made to contact with a running web, it will adherethereto, and the web end will be ruptured between the secured portionand the pasted surface, thus freeing the web end from the roll.

8. The method of substituting the web of a replacement web roll, for aweb running to a machine from a substantially expired web roll, whichconsists in securing the leading end of the web of the replacement rollto its body by gummed slips, each disposed adjacent a side edge of theweb end, applying a strip of adhesive 'on the outside of the web endalong its leading edge and extending adjacent the side edges of the webend but spaced therefrom to leave an area beside the slip and also agreater area behind the slip without adhesive, rotating the replacementroll at substantially the speed of the 'run ning web, causing contact ofthe running web and the adhesive covered portion of the web end andthereby lifting the leading edge of the web end from the body "of thereplacement roll and freeing it therefrom by tearing the web through thesaid uncoated areas and diagonally with respect to its length, andsevering the web running from the then expired roll.

9. In combination, holding means for securing the free end of the web ofa web roll to the body of the roll whereby it will be held thereto whilethe roll is being rotated preliminary to splicing the said web end to arunning web, and a tear directing member arranged to cause the web totear adjacent the holding means and free the web end from the roll whenthe splice is made.

10. In combination, holding means for securiing the free end of the webof a web roll to the body of the roll whereby it will be held theretowhile the roll is being rotated preliminary to splicing the said web endto a running web, and a tear directing member secured to the said webend and arranged to cause the web to tear adjacent the holding means andfree the web end from the roll when the splice is made.

11. In combination, holding means for securing the free end of the webof a web roll to the body of the roll, whereby it will be held theretowhile the roll is being rotated preliminary to splicing the said web endto a running web, and tear directing means arranged to cause the web totear in a generally diagonal direction and free :the web end from theroll when the splice is made. 7

12. In combination, holding means for securing the free. end of the webof a web roll to, the

body of the roll, whereby it will be held theretowhile the roll is beingrotated preliminary to splicingthe said web end to a running web, and

tear directing means secured to the said web end and arranged to causethe web to tear in a generallydiagonal direction and free the web endfrom the roll when the splice is made.

13. In combination, holding means for securing the free end of the webof a web roll .to the body of the roll, whereby it will be held theretowhile the roll is being rotated preliminary to. splicing the said webend to a running web, and tear directing means secured to the said webend and arranged to cause the web to tear in a plurality of places ingenerally diagonal directions leading toward each end of the roll andtree the web end from the roll when the splice is made.

14. In combination, holding means for securing the free end of the webof a web roll to the body of the roll, whereby it will be held theretowhile the roll is being rotated preliminary to splicing thesaid web endto a running web, and tear directing means secured to the said web endand arranged to cause the web to tear in a,plurality of places ingenerally diagonal and relatively converging directions and free the webend from the roll when the splice is made.

15. Holding means for securing the free end, of the web of a web roll tothe body of the roll,- whereby it will be held thereto while the roll isbeing rotated preliminary to splicing the said web end to a running web,said holding means including-a sticker overlying the web end andsecuredto it and the next course of the web on the roll, and a strip ofadhesive applied alongthe edge of the free web end, said sticker havingan edge disposed generally parallel to and slightly spaced from thestrip of adhesive, both the adhesive strip and the aforesaid stickeredge being disposed to cause the web material therebetween to tear in adirection generally diagonal to the edge of the web, when the splice ismade.

16. Holding means for securing the free end" of the web 01' a web rollto the body of the roll,; whereby it will be held thereto while the rollis being rotated preliminary to splicing the said web end to a runningweb, and wherein the webend is'formed to provide a corner at the freeend free end and the side edge of the web to insure;

tearing of the web across the aioresaid'corner, when the splice is made.

ALBERT J. HORTON.

